"Aunt Sara! Uncle G! Wake up wake up wake up! It's time for Christmas!" 3 year old Elsie and 4 year old James, yelled, jumping on the bed.

Sara groaned and swatted air.

"Aunt Sara... aunt Sara," Elsie sang, in Sara's ear, while James did the same in Callen's, "walley wakey eggs and bakey."

Sara got an evil smirk and she and Callen exchanged quick glances without the kids seeing them.

"Roar!" Callen yelled, grabbing James and Sara grabbed Elsie. The children yelled in surprise and then laughed from being tickled.

"Stop it," James laughed.

"We'll be down stairs soon," Sara told the children, as they released them.

"Ok," they said, hopping off the bed and going on their merry little way.

Sara put on her braw and stuck her unruly, mop of hair in a messy bun.

"You ready?" She asked.

"They called me uncle," Callen said.

Sara smiled, "they think of you like an uncle. My family really really loves you G."

"Are you ok with this? I know it's gotta be hard"

"A little maybe but I do enjoy having you here," she admitted, "come on, we need to get down stairs. It's present time."

::

Callen handed Sara a neatly wrapped gift, as they sat in the living room that morning.

"You didn't have to get me anything," Sara smiled, taking the gift.

"I know," Callen said, "go ahead, open it."

Sara unwrapped the gift, "101 ways to entertain ourself on a plane," she read the front cover of the book, "very funny," she said dryly, "when did you get this?"

"I got it at the airport gift shop," Callen replied.

"Well, I got you something too," Sara smiled, handing him his gift.

"Monopoly for dummies," Callen read, after unwrapping it, "touché.

"My dad gave that to me 20 years ago. Monopoly is our game."

"Thanks," Callen smiled.

"You're welcome," Sara replied.

After presents, they ate breakfast and hung out. The kids and a few adults played with their new toys.

There was a puzzle, that most everybody worked on at some point or another.

Mitchell had gotten a Ping pong set. It had a net that secured to the table, a few paddles, and, of course, ping pong balls. It was a big hit. The family had arrange a tournament bracket, for the adults, by the early afternoon.

It was very much a rule-less tournament. As long as the ball was still bouncing, you could try and get it back to the other side. It didn't matter if it bounced more than once or was off the table, as long as it was still bouncing.

Sara and Charles were the last two left.

"The crowed is silent," Tom narrated, "the score is 20-19, Game point Sara. Dad's serve and... the serve is good. Dad and Sara are keeping a steady rhythm. Oh, and it's off the table. Can Sara recover? She does! It's goes off the table on dad's side and he's not as nibble as he used to be... and... and... and the ball is rolling. Sara is the Nelson family Ping Pong champion! The crowed goes crazy... ahhhhhh."

At this point the while family was looking at him weirdly.

"What? You act like I did something weird," Tom said.

"Good game," Sara and Charles told each other.

The rest of the day went well and it was one of the best Christmases ever.

::

"Are you about ready?" Callen asked.

"Yep," Sara replied, from the bath room where she had just finished applying her lip gloss.

They were going to a small Christmas get together of Sara's group of friends from growing up.

"I put our bags in the truck," Callen said, they were going back to her dads tonight for Christmas tomorrow, on actual Christmas Day.

"Ok, I'm ready," Sara said, coming into their room, "how do I look?" She spun around in a shimmery, Christmas red dress. It came to about midd thigh and had one sleeve. Her long blonde hair was curled in ringlets and pinned to one side and she had silver opened toes heels on.

"Beautiful," Callen breathed and Sara blushed.

"You don't look half bad yourself," Sara replied.

Callen wore nice kaki slacks and a grey button down.

They made it to Alyssa's, Sara's best friend and Andrew's sister, house about an hour later. Callen opened Sara's door for her, she had let him drive.

"Thank you," Sara smiled.

Thy walked into the house where hey were greeted by a very happy Alyssa.

"Alyssa," Sara smiled, hugging her best friend.

"You look great," Alyssa said, "I guess it pays off not having had kids back to back." Sara laughed.

"This is George," Sara said, introducing her best friend and Callen.

"Nice to meet you," Callen smiled.

"It too," Alyssa replied, "it nice to see someone has finally captures Sara's heart."

The night went on. Callen was introduced to many of Sara's old friends. Most of them had stayed in the general area, which Callen found interesting.

"Well if it isn't Sara Scott," someone said.

"Andrew," Sara said, "nice to see you."

"Yeah," he replied, "it's been awhile."

"Yep," Sara nodded. Callen cleared his throat, feeling a little jealous, "oh, this is my boyfriend, George."

"Nice to meet you," Callen said, shaking Andrew's hand.

"You too," Andrew replied, "you know, when my sister said you were coming, I almost didn't believe her."

"Well, here I am," Sara smiled, "so how have you and the kids been since the accident?"

"We've been good," Andrew replied, "Natalie is still to young to understand everything and I think Jason gets it."

"I suppose the kids are getting big."

"Hep, Jason is 5 and Natalie is 2 1/2."

"Wow!" Sara said, "how long has it been since I was home?"

"Hey I'm going to get something to drink," Callen said, "can I get you anything?"

"Eggnog please," Sara smiled.

"Coming right up," Callen replied, leaving Sara and Andrew alone.

"He seems nice," Andrew commented.

"He is."

"Does he know?"

"Yeah," Sara replied.

"I went to see her," Andrew replied, "about a month ago.

"You what? Why would you do that?" Sara whisper yelled.

"You're not the only one who gets letters and pictures every month, Sara," Andrew replied, "she's been asking about us. Her parents were the ones who suggested."

"She's 8, Andrew," Sara said, madly," she doesn't need us confusing her.

"Sara, she wrote me a letter herself asking me to come. I needed to do it. She loved meeting the kids. Don't you get it? She wanted to meet me. I wasn't going to deny her that privilege. I may not be here tomorrow. Loosing Jana made me realize that."

"I'm done talking about it," Sara said, walking away.

"Where's Sara going?" Callen asked Andrew, coming out of the other room with two cups in his hands.

"Outside, cooling off," Andrew replied.

"I assume it wasn't because she was hot?"

"Nope, Andrew replied, "a bit of advice. Sara is stubborn and can be a pain in the ass but she's someone you never let go of. If you do you may regret it. I blew my shot, don't blow yours," Andrew finished before walking way.

Callen stood in thought before walking out side to find Sara.

"Here's your eggnog," Callen said, "don't worry, I'll drive tonight.

"Thanks," Sara said, taking a sip.

"What made you get mad?"

"He went to see Emily, our kid," Sara said, wiping a stray tear away, "and I don't know weather I'm mad he went to see her or jealous that he got to meet her."

"You, Sara Scott, should stop being so tough and guarded," Callen said, placing a a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

"I'll do that as soon as you do," Sara replied, looking to meet his gaze.

It was silent for a minute. Then Callen decided to do probably the stupidest but smartest things he'd ever done, he kissed her. Sara responded, happy Callen had made a move.

Her hands moved around Callens neck and his to her back, pulling her closer to him.

"Well that's not very guarded," Sara laughed, as they broke for air but stayed in very, very, very close proximity.

"No, it not," Callen chuckled, "I'm feeling things for you, Sara."

"Ditto."

"Ditto? I just admitted to having feelings for you and that's all you say?"

"I have feelings for you too, G Callen," Sara said, before Callen kissed her again.

"We should probably be getting inside. It's pretty cold out here," Sara said, a couple minutes later.

"Probably," Callen agreed.

They went and mingled for about another hour and a half before leaving.

"So where does this leave us?" Sara asked, on the car ride back to her dad's.

"Where do you want this to leave us?"

"We work together," Sara replied.

"Yes we do."

"And Hetty probably already knows."

"Yes, she probably does," Callen smiled, thinking of the small ninja, who had become like a mother to him, "lets just take things slow and see what happens, ok?" Callen suggested, grabbing Sara's hand, "I'd like to see what could happen between us. I'm tired of being alone. Your family made me realize that."

"Ok," Sara smiled.

When they got back to the Scott's, it was after midnight. They slipped quietly into the sleeping house hold.

That night Sara and Callen cuddled right up next to each other, without Callen being dopy from medicine.

"Merry Christmas," Sara said, kissing Callen.

"Merry Christmas, Sara," Callen said, kissing her again.